Tag Archives: suspense

Ready for the gorgeous cover of the next Guild Hunters book from Nalini Singh? These angels have never looked so good!

ABOUT THE BOOK:

One of the most vicious archangels in the world has disappeared. No one knows if Lijuan is dead or has chosen to Sleep the long sleep of an immortal. But with her lands falling into chaos under a rising tide of vampiric bloodlust, a mysterious and ancient order of angels known as the Luminata calls the entire Cadre together to discuss the fate of her territory.

Accompanying her archangelic lover Raphael to the Luminata compound, guild hunter-turned-angel Elena senses that all is not as it seems. Secrets echo from within the stone walls of the compound, and the deeper Elena goes, the uglier the darkness. But neither Raphael nor Elena is ready for the brutal truths hidden within—truths that will change everything Elena thinks she knows about who she is…

Nalini Singh is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Psy-Changeling, Guild Hunter, and Rock Kiss series. She lives and works in beautiful New Zealand, and is passionate about writing.

If you’d like to explore her other books, you can find lots of excerpts and free short stories on herwebsite.Slave to Sensation is the first book in the Psy-Changeling series, whileAngels’ Blood is the first book in the Guild Hunter series. TheRock Kiss books are all stand alone and can be read in any order.

Synopsis

Two-time ex-con Camden Sanders has decided that Hog Mountain—an isolated community on the outskirts of Atlanta, Georgia—is the perfect place to continue running small scams without the threat of more prison time. But there are a few problems with this plan. One is the neighborly citizens of Hog Mountain thwarting his dirty dealings at every turn with their kindness. Another is Jackson Rhodes, a closeted Hog Mountain police officer who can see right through Cam’s good ol’ boy act and plans to catch him red-handed despite the attraction they both can feel. But the biggest problem of all is that Cam’s past is threatening to catch up with him, and it could mean trouble for more than just himself.

Excerpt

When Cam parked his pickup in front of the pumps at his station, he was surprised to find a local police cruiser waiting by the closed garage door. A tall blond cop leaned leisurely against the front bumper, staring directly at him as he took his time getting out. The frown on the policeman’s face was at odds with his stance, and although Cam didn’t think he had much to worry about, he couldn’t help the hammering in his heart, the constricting of his chest.

He’d dealt with cops and guards enough to know there wasn’t a one of them that wasn’t a sadistic asshole. They thrived on making people like Cam suffer. Cam had yet to deal with the local law and had hoped his lucky streak would continue. He had to admit the officer knew how to wear a uniform, though, with broad shoulders and slim waist accentuated nicely. Too bad he couldn’t sit in the truck all day and ogle the man instead of having to deal with whatever he wanted. With a sigh, Cam gathered his wits and opened the truck’s door, stepping out, then turning back to grab his breakfast. Well, shit. Wasn’t this morning starting off with a bang.

Instead of walking toward the officer, he aimed for the front door of the gas station. He’d turned the area attached to the garage into a waiting area with mismatched office chairs and an old coffee table from the Goodwill. Cam had to jiggle the key in the lock a few times before the cylinder turned, and as he opened the door, he heard footsteps approaching.

“What can I do you for this morning, Officer?” Cam asked as casually as possible. “Your cruiser giving you trouble?”

Cam sat his breakfast on the counter that ran along the back wall, then stepped over to the window-unit AC and pushed the button to get it going. It wasn’t that hot yet, but it wouldn’t take long to get there. When he still hadn’t gotten an answer from the cop, he turned to find him doing a thorough visual inspection of the area, then stepping over to the glass door leading to the garage and doing the same, canting his head to get as much of a view as possible without entering. Cam frowned.

“Is there a problem, Officer?” Now he had a reason for concern. What was the cop looking for? Cam had a sudden itch to run for it, although he had no idea what he was running from.

The officer turned, and Cam squinted to read the name Jackson Rhodes above the pocket of his uniform. When Officer Rhodes’s hand came to rest on the butt of his gun, it was all Cam could do not to flinch. “Who is the second coffee for, Mr. Sanders?”

Cam glanced over to his breakfast and back to Rhodes, his nervousness kicking up a notch. “I… uh….”

Shit! Cam was going into a full-out panic. His gaze darted around the room, looking for some way out of the situation, but then just as suddenly, his subconscious gave him a metaphoric kick in the ass. What the hell? Was he going to let this asshole come into his place of business and fuck with him? He had nothing to hide. Well, okay, that wasn’t exactly true, but he wasn’t going to simply crumple over one question.

Cam slipped into his I-give-not-one-fuck persona and looked Officer Rhodes in the eye. “I don’t see where that’s even a little bit of your business, Officer. Want to tell me what this is about?”

Officer Rhodes took a few more steps closer, until he was crowding Cam against the counter in front of his food. “I’ve been hearing tales on your methods of auto repair. From changing the winter air out of tires to replacing dissolved halogen crystals in headlights or the deoxygenized water in a radiator. A quick background check shows you’ve served time in the past.”

Fuck it! Cam thought. He took a step forward too, coming chest to chest and nose to nose with the officer. “Yeah, I done time, and I paid my debt. I’m here making a fresh start and I won’t have you bad talking my business. I have a logbook of work done, signed off by the customers. It shows I did legitimate work, no matter what you hear.”

“I’d like to see this log, if you will,” Officer Rhodes responded. Damn, the man was fine. Light brown eyes sparking with challenge, blond hair cut short in a crew cut. He looks so clean-cut, you’d think he would squeak when he walks.

Instead of pulling out the log, Cam turned toward his breakfast. “Coffee, Officer? I do have two. Might as well share. It was like I knew I was going to have company this morning.” He busied himself by pulling out the creamer and sugar packets from the bag and placing them where Rhodes could get to them, then pulling out the rest of his purchase and divvying up the food as if he’d meant to buy the cop breakfast.

When Cam glanced over, Rhodes was looking around again as if making sure no one else was in the shop. Then he shrugged and started doctoring his coffee to his satisfaction. Cam did the same and took a sip before opening one of the cabinet doors below the countertop. He pulled out a receipt book and pushed it over to the officer, then scooped up his breakfast and coffee and settled into one of the chairs to eat.

While Officer Rhodes leaned over the counter and flipped through the receipt book, Cam took the opportunity to admire the fine backside on display. The cop was built like a brick shithouse and would make a great addition to his spank bank. No doubt Rhodes had a gaggle of cheerleader-esque girls in town who giggled when he walked by. And that was too bad. Cam wouldn’t mind giving the fine officer a strip search.

The sound of a throat clearing brought Cam back from his thoughts. He glanced up to find Officer Rhodes staring at him with a frown on his face. Oops.

Meet the Author

Jason Huffman-Black could be described as the porn star alter ego of the mild-mannered editor for several LGBT publishers. By day, Jason edits and writes in a cozy chair, while Mr. Huffman-Black travels the globe on such adventurous excursions as wrestling the one-eyed spitting serpent of Tangiers, ass-spelunking into the hidden tomb of King CockTut, and most recently, sharing a prison cell in a small third-world nation with a rather sweaty fur-covered hulk of a man named Javier.

Release Date: March 18, 2016 Published by Dreamspinner Press Review Copy from Author

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Final book in the Dirty Series arc.

Former LAPD detective Cole McGinnis’s life nearly ended the day his police partner and best friend Ben Pirelli emptied his service weapon into Cole and his then-lover, Rick. Since Ben turned his gun on himself, Cole thought he’d never find out why Ben tried to destroy him.

Years later, Cole has stitched himself back together. Now a private investigator and in love with Jae-Min Kim, a Korean-American photographer he met on a previous case, Cole’s life is back on track—until he discovers Jeff Rollins, a disgraced cop and his first partner, has resurfaced and appears to be working on the wrong side of the law.

As much as Cole’s fought to put the past behind him, he’s soon tangled up in a web of lies, violence, and death. Jeff Rollins is not only trying to kill Cole’s loved ones, he is also scraping open old wounds and long-forgotten memories of the two men Cole loved and lost. Cole is sure Rollins knows why Ben ruined all their lives, but he isn’t looking for answers. Now Cole is caught in a cat-and-mouse game with a cold-blooded killer with the key to not only his past but his future.

OUR THOUGHTS:

Get ready, Cole McGinnis fans, because Dirty Heart is exactly the conclusion to this series you’ve been waiting for. Rhys Ford wraps up the final installment with all the mystery, suspense, and intrigue we’ve come to expect and the sweet, smoldering romance we know and love. (With a healthy dose of Korean swearing thrown in.)

I’ll admit I was apprehensive to begin reading knowing this is the final story in this arc, but I couldn’t be happier with the way Ford ties up all the loose ends. I’m not sure how I’ll manage to part ways with Cole and Jae – that won’t be easy. Their story is one that draws me in and makes me part of their world as if I’m right there with them whether it’s tender moments or terrifying bloodshed. Reading those final lines is definitely like saying goodbye to old friends, but I have a feeling I’ll be back to visit from time to time. These are the kind of stories you read again and again, finding new details with each reread.

At risk of spoiling anything about this book – it’s certainly something you should experience firsthand – I’ll be deliberately vague. What I will say is it’s pretty much no holds barred; no one’s safe, and danger is out there, rearing its ugly head at every turn. Jae is back in all his awesome Jae-ness while Cole’s up to the usual – solving impossibly complicated mysteries involving extremely dangerous people. Ford holds us in suspense as she cleverly works her plot, making what seem like a million complex twists and turns before finally revealing the answers to questions new and old. Untangling the web is a bit messy to say the least, but man, is it oh so satisfying.

If you’re new to this series, congrats! You’ve stumbled upon an amazing mystery series in completion which means no waiting for new books! For the rest of us, it’s a somber see ya later to characters we know and love. Thank you, Rhys Ford, for a fantastic ride.

I survive on avoidance. Physical pain to avoid the mental. Disposable flesh to avoid relationships. Work to avoid attachment.

My club became my empire of avoidance. Inside the ring millions are won and lost. The fight is confined to breaths, actions and reactions, fists and pain. Rules don’t exist. Only my opponent exists.

I’d been avoiding my needs for far too long when Remi stumbles into the Inferno and I’m hungry. The promise of a submissive with no attachment is far too tempting. I can’t resist him.

He was only supposed to be a distraction, but I know I’ll never get over him. There isn’t a chance in this clouded hell.

Our thoughts:

I’m always drawn to the unique. If a novel doesn’t fit into a neat little box, then it’s usually something I’ll like or enjoy. JR Gray’s Clouded Hell definitely breaks the mold. There is nothing mundane and ordinary with this novel. A story of dominance, submission, hate, jealousy, self-hatred with a dose of self fulfillment.

Remi sets out to find a mark, he finds Dante. He wants a guy he can manipulate and use for his own needs and then discard afterward. Remi needs to submit. To get this need out of his system and go back to his perfectly constructed life. Remi never expected to feel more as he knelt before Dante. Dante was tough, a fighter who never backed down. He’s Dominant and controlling over everyone and everything. Once Remi is submitting at Dante’s feet, he wants to control him but that proves to be harder than he thought it would be.

Remi is struggling, pulled in so many directions by his father, best friend, and now Dante. He’s spiraling out of control and in his world that could lead to danger. The son of a homophobic Vegas crime boss, Remi must always be at the top of his game. Protecting his secrets is priority number one.

The D/s scenes are not weak or watered down BDSM. Dante takes Remi at his word, no hard limits and willing to go hardcore in a scene. Dante is unrelenting and makes Remi soar into subspace every time. Remi’s defiance is just enough to get more of Dante’s wrath without ruining the scenes. They’re usually ruined for other reasons, like a promise to another or holding back.

As Dante struggles to come to terms with having someone new in his life after loss, Remi struggles to let go of a less than desirable relationship. One where he’s manipulated and used but his loyalty prevents him from ending. That’s until he discovers that life just isn’t worth taking the backseat anymore, he deserves so much more. He’s becoming comfortable in his position at Dante’s feet and just might fight harder for that spot than he ever thought he would.

Gray keeps us wondering what/who Dante and Remi will choose. Then the crime boss father becomes deranged and all goes a bit sideways. I liked being kept on the edge through this book. So many twists and turns. So many emotional battles. So many fights to navigate. When the sweet, soaring moments show up, they’re that much sweeter.

A truly unique novel with a cover to die for. One of my favorite types of endings, the open kind.